We recently connected with Ben and Becca Pettis and have shared our conversation below.
Ben and Becca, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
We learned to do our unique color-grading by playing around with different settings in photos then later trying to recreate it in the video. We learned that black and white color grading worked easier, and so it gave us a leg to stand on for both photo and video. The skills that were most essential was perseverance and determination, to not give up. As well as be teachable–if you want to create and be different, you have to understand it won’t come easy. Obstacles, the hardest was gaining traction for being different and gaining respect!
Ben and Becca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
So back in 2017, we decided to dive into the photography realm together. Created B+B, we were never happy with the name, but we moved forward. In late 2017, Ben wanted to learn video, In 2019, we started to shift to elopements and couples only. Then 2020 happened and so did everyone else. We decided while everyone was booking up we would rebrand. New name: Worldwide Elopement Visuals. Specializing in making art from love and having a stand-alone style that is recognized easily.
What got us into the industry was our own love story, so naturally, it felt right to have the discipline to go all-in on couples. If we could solve our own problem that everything bleeds together on social media, we can solve our couples’ want to be seen differently.
What sets us apart is not just our color grade but also how we treat our clients. Time and time again we are told we have replaced the fear (from past photo +video experiences) of being in front of a lens… with one of joy and excitement!
We aim to have all clients feel like their experience is specifically curated for their own likes. Where their input over clothing and location matters, and it is not just all about “doing it for the gram”. Rather creating memories and capturing them to hang at home, or even post them.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Being taught for so many years, “just show up. People will come. Figure out your message later.” REALLY HAD TO BE UNTAUGHT.
Forgotten, tossed in the trash, and DELETED.
Showing up authentically, and scaling down our style to be uniform, only taking so many clients a year… Sitting there ready to be known for making art instead of just posting for likes and “showing up”
When we started showing up authentically, learning how we want to sound online, and matching that energy in a person, was a game changer. Learning what we want to be known for and stand for, and setting healthy work boundaries… OH BOTHER.
That’s a long tale.
However, this is why cliff notes are a thing:
-don’t just show up to show up without a plan
-don’t have online energy that you have to fake in person
-make healthy boundaries with work and expectations of self.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
When we deliver artworks and films and have someone gush over how they *FEEL* special just looking at it! That they are recalling memories from that day, and want to do it again. Live it again.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.worldwidelelopementvisuals.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coelopementvisuals/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/coelopementvisuals/?tsid=0.3813954672812654&source=result
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClYG47IU4-hEzWvyxkSVkNg?app=desktop
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/COElopementVisuals/
Image Credits
Images belong to Worldwide Elopement Visuals